Abstract
Dabigatran etexilate is a direct reversible thrombin inhibitor. Its advantages include effective anticoagulation without the need for monitoring, possibility to be administered orally once or twice daily and low risk of drug interactions.
In clinical studies (Re-NOVATE, RE-MODEL or RE-COVER), it has proved effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic complications in the perioperative period and in the prevention of systemic embolization during atrial fibrillation (the RE-LY study). In the latter indication, in particular, dabigatran at a dose of 300 mg daily was more effective than warfarin (the occurrence of thromboembolic complications decreased by a third) and the treatment was associated with a lower occurrence of life-threatening haemorrhage as well as haemorrhagic stroke.